CVE-2026-99179: Linux kernel · watch_queue: Fix note pool publication race in watch_queue_set_size()
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited.
Data as of 29 Oct 2026, 22:46 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
Thin evidence
One scorer or noneExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 28 Oct 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 29 Oct 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A fix is available that enforces proper memory ordering using smp_store_release() and smp_load_acquire() to prevent the race condition. Users should apply the updated Linux kernel versions that include this fix to mitigate the vulnerability.
Description
A race condition in the Linux kernel's watch_queue_set_size() function can lead to a NULL pointer dereference and kernel panic. This occurs because of unsynchronized publication of note pool data, allowing an unprivileged user to trigger a kernel crash by racing certain key management operations. The issue is fixed by enforcing proper memory ordering when publishing the number of notes.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-99179 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-99179 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5e531d62f1f8834faf7a4eed0d41105cf6570a8f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/811fb6d0b07605e8e8d93bde8748be4b3028809a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9e73a6754457ffed8399b835552013b9363e51d1 (opens in a new tab)